Cinder plant



' Sept. 16, 1930. c. P. ROSS 1,115,970

OINDER PLANT Filed Dec. 31, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 675??? e $5 5 MTG/J34 Marne s- Sept. 16, 1930.

c. P. Ross CINDE'R PLANT Fild Dec. 31. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 16, 1930. c. P. Ross 1,775,970

CINDER PLANT Filed Dec. 31, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 16, 1930. c. P. Ross 1,775,970

CINDER PLANT Filed Dec. :51, 1927 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 PATENT OFFICE CLYDE P. ROSS, OF KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS GENDER PLANT Application filed December 31, 1927. Serial No. 243,797.

My invention relates to a locomotive cinder plant and has for its purpose to provide a plant in which cinders may be received from locomotives and may be transported to cinder receiving and removing cars. One object is the provision of a plant of the type clescribed which shall be compact and easily operated and which shall involve a minimum of excavation and construction. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a transverse vertical section; Figure Qis a top plan view with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line H of Figure 1; V

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a variant form; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another variant form with parts in section.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 to l, A, A A in- V dicate a plurality of cinder receiving tracks upon which locomotives can be spotted in order to discharge cinders into the hoppers A A A having any suitable gates or dosure-s A operated for example by levers A controlling the operating mechanism generally indicated as A B indicates a track upon which the cinder receiving car B may be spotted.

v C generally indicates a tunnel, herein shown with the inclined bottom G which penetrates beneath the hoppers A A A.

It is provided with horizontal parallel tracks or angles C C secured to the side walls of the tunnel and'with supplemental tracks C spaced beneath with the upwardly curved end portion C The tracks C are upwardly turned as at C and extend upwardly within the supporting structure C having the usual transverse bracing members C The bucket guides or tracks C are shown 50. as extending upwardly throughout the major portion of the height of the structure C where they terminate in a curved portion C and a recurved portion C connected by the portions G and finally terminating in a short vertical back portion C Secured to the supporting structure C running parallel with the main vertical section of the track C are the parallel supplemental tracks D D corresponding to the tracks C and a horizontal section. They terminate at their upper ends in arcuate or inclined portions D D opposite the curved track portion C but converging thereto.

E indicates a vertical baflle, the wings E of which serve as gusset plates and are connect ed to the supporting structure C E is a delivery apron or chute pivoted as at E to the wings E and adapted to be raised or lowered by means of a cable E supported and guided by sheaves E E and continuing tfic; a chain hoist E operated by a hand chain F is a hoist bucket having a pair of supporting wheels F adapted to engage the tracks C and an additional pair of guiding wheels F adjacent the top of one side of the lfi ucket, but at a lower level than the wheels Pivotally mounted upon the pins F which carry the rollers F are the bales F F. To F maybe secured the hoist cable F. F F are pairs of rollers carried by the bales. F is an idler adjacent the opening of the tunnel C which engages the hoisting cable F. F

is a sheave located within the housing F car-- ried by the supporting structure C and F is a hoist drum adapted to be actuated by any suitable mechanism within the housing F which may be speed reducing gears driven by a motor F To the bale F is the tail cable G, guided and supported byidler sheaves G G G Gr rotatably mounted upon the end wall of the tunnel C. Positioned between the idlers G G is a counterweight J carried by the cable G by means of a sheave J said counterweight being adapted to take up any slack of the cable G. The tail cable continues along one side of the tunnel and is wound about an idler G at the opposite end of the tunnel ss'tun ell.

v portioIislM extending verticallyas-at M3; to;

adjacent the entrance, thence e mountedi upon hoist drum F 9. r I Referring to Figure 5 I have illustrated a fcinder handling plant particularly adapted}.

for a single decindering track shown at H, though more may be employed; H indicates a hopper with gate H and controlling'niechfanisni H manipul'ated by the lever H pro"- jecting through a slot in .thetunnel I, here- ;vertical side walls of thejtunnel are providturned at their ends, as'atI and; extending upwardly; the generalconstruction of the mechanism of the tower being identical ,with} the form prev ously described, andncarrylng,

" in-Figurefi, the same indicating characters.

, fill? indicates supplemental tracks running I 25 parallel beneath the tracks 1 the'lowest ones 7 -beingpreferably longeiysaidtracks I befing turnedu'pwardly as at I J indicates a hoisting bucket with rollers J1 v rotatably mounted upon pins J 2 which carry the bale 20- J? with attached rollersy adapted to l ride "in the tracks I J are rollers secured to i one end of thebucket J; ata somewhatlow- I er ilevel, and engaging the supple rnental' 1 tracks I when the bucketdescends into the -K isa hoisting cable secured totheubale J and extending upwardly overgthe idler "5K adj acent the open endof the tunnell and 'f Figure 6 illustrates a cinder "handling plantjgadapted for a -si-ngle track from whlchlocom'otives' M maydlscharge 'cinders p I p Y ati'ng-room S 4 on top of theftOWer j iintojlthe' hopperl lvl. having the controlling 1 walls of-"the tunnel are' 'theparallel'inclined.

a 'precletermined fiheight; The track section'sM? are" supported 'bylateral'braces 7M uponany suitable material storage structure- .60 positioned above thetrack herein shown};

as atypical .towerlincluding the {support1ng members N the hopper or bin N i with the v inclinedf' wallsi N? The-bin N is open )at N to receivelthe inclinedtrack'portions 65M andIM and-.the vertical track sections wardly and is dead ended upon a drum G the shaft which carries the f in ShOWIl withan inclined bottom ,I which j penetrates beneath the hopper H The twov opposite endR oi' "the trackRl is-paralle continuing over 'the sheave K to the drum L K which maybe actuated by anysuita'ble mechanism within the housing K The gen, eral construction and location o'f th'e cinder delivering chute or apron andreceiving cars are identical with thelform previously described and are indicated b like; symbols.

gate-M actuated by an suitablemea'n ss'uch U aspreviouslydescribed: 1 'M 'isla tunnel 'or' Y'Fpit withinclined bottom M 'jpenetrating be I ,-;neath--' the hopper Secured ,tolthe sice tracksectionsM with the upwardly turned p I iings to be 'takenjflas ln' a broad I P tra'tive, o'r; d agrammaticrathjeritha i asglin M continuing to' the top of the hopper N N 'fare traclzs orwguides" projecting through thelopening N? within the bin N the purpose. of'which will later appear.

Discharge, of material from the-bin or hopper'N is accomplished'by opening the discharge 'chute'P located above the track gate P, thus allowing contents to fiow over the e M into the cinder'receiving car P support 1? ed on said track The ate P is o erated v n i I by manipulating the 'h'andleP which actu-- V ates thelever P pivoted as at l with the a r connecting link P pivoted to the gate which is slidably mounted between the guid ing members-P Thedischarge chute P is "prov1ded at its outerend, with ,a bafile plate P? to check the throw 'ofthe 'downflowing -.material. I Any'suitable means-for lowering e and raising the hingeddischargechnte P c gmay beprovidech ittbeinghereinshown as; f s V .a cable Q attachedto'the b'aleP "fastened to the chute; v .The'oableiQ lcontinuesto a chain hoist Q; actuated by? manipulating the chain Q? fromtho operators platform'Qfi accessible by means of theladder Q i track; sections M? a portion of the track R I a l a R R1 indicate;supplemental vtracksguthe g track R running,parallel' withg-the inclined? being parallel was the track n usea. having the upwardlyturned' end portion R Th with and above the inclined tracks M S lIIClICELtQS aho1stfhucket havnig. apa r V of supporting wheels or rollers to engage: the traoksillif, and an additionalif v pair ofguiding wheels S? adjacent the top of one sidejof the bucket.-v "S "isazgnidingg member or angle, mounted one oneachside, I

lon the bucket, S, said members S 3 being 7 adapted tozengage rollers Simountedion" thee; 1 lower track sections MKQS?" isla pivoted'bale v supporting a pair of guide wheelsis 'Seextending upwardly. overz the rears and '8" land continuing -overjaLsheaveS Q tops; hoisting l druni SK upon which-it, i's-jdead ended; said drum 'S fiinay'be actuated-by. any suitable mechanisnnwithinfthex' open It will be realized {that-whereas :have Klee scribed and shown a practical and." oper'ati ve device; nevertheless manyichangesiniight :be V made 'in' size, shape, numb'er'and' disposition V ofpa'rts without departing@i'irointhefspirit V of-my invention; I therefore wish;

illus-J iting2meito ..my specificsshowing; J

1 The use and as; follows:

cured to the bale S is a hoistingcable '53? operation of my inventioniare leaf 7 7 the release of the .gates employed.

minimum track space and maximum flexiandcheaply constructed installation wherein locomotives may be easily and quickly decindered. As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 my plant may include a plurality of decindering tracks and'a cinder car track. Beneath the ClQCll'lClQIlllg tracks are hoppers and beneath the hoppers extends a tunnel into which'can run a hoist bucket. I provide any suitable means for controlling theflow of material from the hoppers and preferably the hoppers are of such size as to be able to accumulate a quantity of material, the cinders being held in each hopper until the bucket is spotted therebeneath, and then released by When filled the bucket is hoisted, by rotation of the drum F which reels in the cable F lVhen the bucket is in the tunnel it is supported by the Wheels F engaging and held between the tracks C as are also the wheels F on the bale F and the wheels F of the bale F The bucket, being pivotally carried by the pins F is held in upright position by the rollers F engaging the supplemental tracks C and the lower track C thus preventing any rocking or swinging of the bucket. When the bucket F reaches the bent portion C of the track C the supplemental rollers or wheels F will leave the supplemental track C and the curved extension guide track C as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The wheels F supporting the hoist bucket andwheels F and F of the bales will follow the path of the tracks C with its curved and inclined portions C C C C. In the dumping position of the bucket the supplemental wheels F are in engagement with the curved portions D D of the supplemental tracks D, D which causes the bucket to assume a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,'thus tilting the bucket and dumping the cinders on to the discharge chute or apron E which delivers said cinders into the cinder receiving car B on track B. The chute E may be raised and lowered by means of the chain hoist Ff.

In the hoisting of the bucket, the rotation of the drums F and G and winding of its attached cables reels in the hoist cable F and unwincs thetail cable G. By reversing of the rotation of the drum, the bucket is lowered and the tail cable moves the bucket in the desired position within the tunnel. The bucket is constantly held between the attached hoisting cable F and the tail cable G, any stretching of either cable being taken up by the counterweight J.

It will be obvious that I may use any desirable means for automatically or non-automatically controlling the hoisting excursion or the timing and frequency of the trips may be handled manually; I have not illustrated the details of controlling mechanism of the hoist, since they form no part of the present invention.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a cinder handling plant suitable for a single decindering track H, thoughaplurality ofdecindering tracks may be employed. The bucket is provided only with a hoisting cable K, for upward movement, downward movement of the bucket being in response to gravity. The hoisting, dumping and disposal of material are identical as described in the previous form.

Figure 6 illustrates a cinder handling plant adapted for a single track. It includes the track M supporting the locomotive M which may discharge cinders into the hopper M The cinders being held in the hopper until the bucket is spotted beneath and being released by opening of the gates. When filled the bucket is hoisted by rotation of the drum S which reels in the cable 5. When the bucket is in the tunnel, beneath the hoppers, it is supported by the wheels S engaging the tracks h/ The bucket is provided with the supplemental wheels S riding upon the upper face of the upper track M and with additional guide members S engaging fixed rollers, the purpose of which is to keep the bucket in its upright position and to prevent swinging, when at the cinder receiving position. lVhen the bucket is hoisted the bucket supporting roller will follow the path of the track portions M M M M and M The supplemental rollers S will travel for a dis 'tance upon the upper track M and thence between the supplemental tracks or guides R- and R Upon leaving said tracks the supplemental wheels S are idle until they come in contact with the tracks N N the result of which contact is the tilting of the hoist bucket as shown in dot-ted lines in Figure 6, thus dumping the cinders into the bin or storage hopper N WVhen it is desired to empty the hopper, a cinder receiving car P may be spotted upon the track M beneath the discharge chute P and the gate P is opened by manipulating the handle P 7 I claim:

1. In a skip hoist installation including an elevated structure and an adjacent track hopper, a bucket, guiding and supporting tracks for said bucket, said tracks penetrating beneath said hopper and extending upwardly on said elevated structure, said bucket being provided with a single pair of track engaging supporting rollers, the axis of said rollers being above andsubstantially over the center of gravity of the bucket, the bucket being pivotally supported about said axis, a haulage bail, pivoted 'tosaid bucket, and track engaggingrollers at each sidethe'reo'f: 1

" elevated structure and an adjacent track hop FLO- Y v v being aboveand substantially over the center for said; bucket said tracks penetrating bei 2; In a skip hoist installation eiu dingaii per,'a bucket, guiding and supporting tracks neathsaid hopper and. extending, upwardly von saidelevated-structure, said bucket being p rtwided :With 'a single pair of track engaging. supporting rollers, the axis'kof; said-rollers i of-gravity or the bucket,- the bucket beingipiv per, a buckehguiding' and supporting tracks ota'llyo supported, about said1-aXis,"a haulage bail, pivoted to said bucket; concentrically With said supporting rollers, and track-I e11 Y gaging rollersat each side -thereo-f.

3. In a skip hoist installation including ani elevated structure and; an-adj acenttrack hopfo'r said-bucket, saidtracks penetratingbe v neath'said hopper and extendingaupwardly r on said elevated structure, said bucket being providedivitha single pair oftrack engaging V 5 supporting rollers, the axis of said'rollers'ber 1 ing above and substantially overthe; center 1 ofgravity of the bucket, the bucketbein'g pivotally supported about'said' axis, a plurality of haulage bails pivoted to said bucket and j:

track engaging rollers ateach side thereof.

' 4. In a skip hoistinstallation including'an elevated structureand an adjacent track hopper, a bucket,xg uidingand supporting tracks glevpairojg' bucketsupportingrollers-above I and substantially over the center of gravity 7 l ofithe bucket, said'bucket beingpivotallyi 1 supported vfrom the axiseo'f said rollers, a

haulage.bailpivotallygsecuredi toi the bucket i j about theaxis of said supporting rollers,

guide rollers carried by the bail at ,its- ,for- Wardend; said guide rollers and supperting rollers simultaneously engaging f saidtrack; r. T11

said track including, a substantially vertical section and a substantially horizontal section, the guide rollers when traversing saidverti-;

cal section of; track being in; superposed re lation" to the'suppor-ting rollers and both 5 the center .of gravityaof ,thebucket, I, y

' S gn d: t, .C a g a' un y" bf} ook d Stage of I-llinois this 2 2nclday of December, j 7

rose,

for said bucket, isaid tracks rpenetratinggbe- V neath said hopper andextending upwardly on 19 provided with a single pair ofitrackengag'ing said elevated structure," said bucket being supporting rollers, the axisfof said rollers beingabove 'arfdl substantiall'ylovertlie center r *of gravity of thebuckehthe bucket being piv- .ota'lly 7 supported about said aicis, 5 aplurality I of haulage bails pivoted-to said bucket and track engaging rollers l at "each side thereof,

Y concentrically With said supporting rollers. "Q,

pairfo'f 'bucketusupporting 'r'ollers plvotally carried by said bucket, above and substanp qtiallyoverthe centerofgravity ofzthbucket and penetrating said opposed track members 1 thebucketfbeingpivotally.supported from the v V p V- :aXisof said rollers ia haulagebail; pivoted 'to 1 1 r saidbucket concentrically Withsaid:'% sup-i porting rollers; anditrack"engagingrrollers i 60;

'oiizvvhich'zthebucketoperateS,"meanstosup r 7 portftlienbucket on saidtraclcirrcluding a'sin it. Zr 1 at each side of said haulage'bail, adapted to p 7 enetrate between andjyb'e :guided' by said trackmemberssl; .r 6,8111 a skip hoist'faskip bucketfa track of rollers beingfab ove ,and substant'iallyover 1' 

